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Sharky's Machine (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
18 December 1981 (USA)
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Tagline:
Nobody leans on Sharky's Machine. [Theatrical] more
Plot:
Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division...
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| full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Prostitution
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Vice
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Murder
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Gangster
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Surveillance
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Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe.
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User Comments:
Dirty Harry meets The Dirty Dozen
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Burt Reynolds | ... | Sgt. Tom Sharky |
 | Vittorio Gassman | ... | Victor |
| Brian Keith | ... | Papa |
| Charles Durning | ... | Friscoe |
| Earl Holliman | ... | Hotchkins |
| Bernie Casey | ... | Arch |
| Henry Silva | ... | Billy Score |
| Richard Libertini | ... | Nosh |
| Darryl Hickman | ... | Smiley |
 | Rachel Ward | ... | Dominoe |
| Joseph Mascolo | ... | Joe Tipps |
 | Carol Locatell | ... | Mabel |
| Hari Rhodes | ... | Highball Mary |
| John Fiedler | ... | Barrett |
| James O'Connell | ... | Twigs |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-16 (cut) (1982) |
Iceland:16 |
Sweden:15 |
New Zealand:R16 |
South Korea:18 |
Australia:R |
Norway:16 (1982) |
Norway:18 |
UK:18 (cut) |
USA:R
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The author of the book, "Sharky’s Machine", William Diehl, had a small role as Dominoe’s pimp, Percy.
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Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Billy Score shoots his first victims his gun has a silencer mounted on the barrel. We still hear "boom, boom" anyway. One shot is even heard from a POV outside the apartment where the killings are occurring.
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Quotes:
Billy Score:
Do you think I will live... or die?
Sharky: Ah, you'll die all right!
Billy Score: No, I don't think so. No, not by you!
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Sharky: Ah, you'll die all right!
Billy Score: No, I don't think so. No, not by you!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Le marginal (1983)
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Soundtrack:
Let's Keep Dancing
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (51 total)
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A tough, gritty and occasionally sadistic police thriller featuring Burt Reynolds in peak form. Reynolds is terrific as Tom Sharky, a top-notch narcotics detective who gets demoted down to the vice squad after a drug bust goes awry. Initially, Sharky's a pretty miserable guy, and his new unit is filled with "loser" cops who've been put out to pasture. Led by a temperamental Charles Durning (probably Burt's most frequent co-star), Sharky joins an entertaining group of misfits played by Brian Keith, Bernie Casey and Richard Libertini. But Sharky finds something to live for once he becomes infatuated with a high-priced call girl named Domino (a sultry Rachel Ward) he's assigned to spy on. Before long, Sharky's head-over-heels in love, and this gives him extra motivation to bring down the drugs and prostitution kingpin (Vittorio Gassman) who pretty much owns Domino. And as Gassman's drugged-out henchman, Henry Silva is downright scary. This film also features some great stuntwork (always a hallmark of Reynolds' old films), especially the climactic fall the late stunt man Dar Robinson does from Atlanta's Peachtree Tower. Good at its time, "Sharky's
Machine" can now be considered a near-great film since serious adult crime thrillers have become increasingly rare in this teen-friendly era of special effects and stupidity. Reynolds' direction of the film is also outstanding. He handles all the action excitingly and realistically, but he also takes time to develop his characters and he generously gives each member of the supporting cast a moment to shine. On a personal note, I'm not a police officer, but Tom Sharky is really a character I can relate to. He's tough and cynical, but also exhibits a sensitive and vulnerable side. These are also the qualities that I think makes Burt Reynolds one of the all-time greatest movie stars.